None of this is the Kings' fault. Don't chuck any mud at the Crusaders, either.
The blame for the terrible mis-matches foisted upon us in Super Rugby must be assigned to the same bampots from Sanzaar who agreed to the fruitcake competition draw many of us are still trying to comprehend.
Let's put it this way: if the Kings, the new team from South Africa, were a genuine threat to the Crusaders at AMI Stadium on Saturday night we probably wouldn't be seeing Todd Blackadder make nine changes to the one that started the 28-13 win over the Blues a fortnight ago.
Crusaders coach Blackadder doesn't have rocks in his head.
He sees this as an opportunity to give his fringe players a run - and retain team harmony because professional footballers hate training the house down and not getting some minutes - and rest All Blacks captain-in-waiting Kieran Read and fellow internationals Joe Moody, Codie Taylor and Andy Ellis ahead of the road trip to South Africa and Perth.
It also means Blackadder can give Wyatt Crockett, Ben Funnell, Luke Romano, Matt Todd, Mitchell Drummond, Johnny McNicholl and Marty McKenzie their first run-on starts without laying awake at night worrying about the terrible gamble he is about to take.
Blackadder can sleep easy: Unless a bunch of his boys lose the plot and get sent-off by referee William Houston, or burn their boots and refuse to exit the changing sheds, the Crusaders should win this in a canter.
You won't get Blackadder or his players to say that, but it's the expectation.
The TAB haven't been fooled, either. On Thursday night they listed the Crusaders at $1.01 to win, while the Sharks were at $15. They also gave the Crusaders a 32.5 points start. Remarkable stuff. Nice work Sanzaar. No wonder any Crusaders fans you chat to this week expects a bonus-point win.
When Blackadder and fullback McKenzie were wheeled-out to chat to the media ahead of training at Rugby Park, they weren't going to write-off the Kings. You can't blame them for not wanting to sound arrogant.
Former Chiefs utility back McKenzie talked about the need to stay mentally sharp. Having been given a start ahead of David Havili, who wore No 15 for the first two rounds in the absence of the injured Israel Dagg, McKenzie won't lack incentive to perform.
"We have tried to put that (the Kings' poor form) in the back of our minds. We are really looking to have a massive game," he said.
The BS statement - the one about the banana skin - has been aired by various parties this week. McKenzie said the coaches had banged-on about the need to treat the Kings with caution, and to burst out of the gates with the throttle wide open.
Now Blackadder will be hoping the message has got through. His side's defence, he added, warranted some work this week.
That's because Sanzaar had struck again by scrapping the four-try bonus point. Teams must now score three more tries than their opponent. The idea is to force the dominant team to keep competing until the final whistle.
"We are trying to focus more on our defence, get it right and take pride in that," Blackadder added. "But that is where the banana skin also comes in - to think we are going to get three tries for the bonus point ... We are not going to take our foot off the accelerator."
Crusaders: Marty McKenzie, Johnny McNicholl, Kieron Fonotia, David Havili, Nemani Nadolo, Richie Mo'unga, Mitchell Drummond, Jimmy Tupou, Matt Todd, Jordan Taufua, Sam Whitelock (c), Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Ben Funnell, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Ged Robinson, Alex Hodgman, Mike Alaalatoa, Tim Boys, Pete Samu, Leon Fukofuka, Ryan Crotty, Jone Macilai.